Not sure how to start

[polydale]

Please advise options applicable to me-
-Completed bunch of IT certifications 20 years ago including MCSE, CNE, CCNA 
- PMP APMP 10 years ago 
-Google IT Support Career cert 2021
-home schooled , so no high school diploma  
- All 6 Microsoft Cloud Fundamentals exams (2021) 
- 20 years work in IT networking and Biz management 
- Looking for IT / Biz management options with max credits from above.

Thank you.

[bjcheung77]

Basically, before you begin, you need to decide on the degree you want and the school you want it from. You can then start taking remaining credits to complete your degree of choice. If you haven't decided on the degree or school, my recommendation is that you can take courses that will transfer into the Big 3 AND the competency based education providers. So that means use more RA, ACE and skip NCCRS for now...

[TINASAM]

Can they even apply without a GED or high school diploma??

[P226mem]

Side issue: homeschoolers can have "high school diploma" if they finished requirements in homeschool high school and within the laws of the what the state says homeschoolers do or don't have to do. Those requirements vary on when and how it's issued and may or may not look like public school. But that's a longer topic to go through than my super brief summary.

In any case, COSC does not require GED or high school diploma IF one "has earned at least nine college-level credits from a regionally accredited college or university, in the armed services, by evaluation of non-collegiate sponsored instruction, or by completing standardized college-level proficiency examinations with a score that is acceptable for credit toward a Charter Oak State College degree." see here https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/curre...ission.php

TESU: a secondary home school diploma that meets the requirements of the applicant's state of residency,

[rachel83az]

Since it sounds like polydale is around 30 years old, it may be difficult to prove homeschooled HS graduation at this point. It might be easier to just take the GED test and move on. It sounds like you've got two choices: No GED and go to COSC for a business degree or take the GED test and go to TESU or UMPI for a comp sci degree. TESU is more expensive, but they do also have a BSBA in Computer Information Systems.

For both COSC and TESU, you would need at least 24 credits from another university or college. The easiest way to start accumulating credits without a GED would be to go through TEL Learning. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/TEL_Learning ($200 per course or $66 per credit) Once you've completed one or two courses, you should be able to enroll at and get some slightly cheaper credits at Olivet Nazarene https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Ol...University ($150 per course or $50 per credit). Alt credit sources like Sophia.org and Study.com don't require proof of graduation at all.

Of what you've already done, you might be able to get credit from your PMP certificate: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...r-PMP-Cert

COSC won't give you credit for the Google IT Support Professional certificate but TESU will give you 3 credits as long as it's in Credly. I don't remember if anyone has transferred it to UMPI yet but they should also give you at least 3 credits.

Some MS exams are worth ACE or NCCRS credit. TESU should take them, though you might have to "prove" their creditability for the NCCRS exams. COSC will not take the Microsoft exams because they only accept credit from a limited number of sources. UMPI should accept them if they are ACE but not if they are NCCRS.

The quickest and cheapest way to "get credit" for your past work experience would be to blast through the required courses. Both TESU and COSC offer some opportunity for PLA-by-portfolio but it's generally both faster and cheaper, per credit, to just do Study.com courses. I think UMPI also offers PLA but it's faster to just take their courses instead of trying to PLA anything.

A business degree through COSC would probably be the easiest and least-complicated route due to not needing a GED or HS diploma. They do require 30 UL credits and a science with a lab (which you can easily obtain through Study.com or TEL Learning), something that can deter some students.

UMPI would be the most affordable but you would either need to figure out how to prove you graduated per the rules of the state or you'd just need to take the GED exam. They also don't offer the comp sci degree yet, but are planning to offer it by spring of next year at the very latest. UMPI also offers very affordable business (management) degrees and you could, theoretically, start working on one of those while waiting for the CS degree to be offered; then you could graduate with both degrees at once. UMPI is also similar to COSC in that they require a science with a lab, plus they require 3 credits in a foreign language.

TESU would also require the diploma/GED and would be the most expensive but, if you went that route, you could get BOTH a BA in Comp Sci AND a BSBA CIS for only a little bit of additional time/effort/money.

Personally, under the circumstances, I would probably choose COSC for the path of least resistance. But it's up to you to decide.

[natshar]

WGU could be a good option. They have a lot of computer related degrees and give credit for certs.
https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/it...tions.html

I know takes time and money but if you take the GED you can get ACE college credit (up to 10 credits total) with high enough scores. Just a thought.

TESU certs: https://www.tesu.edu/academics/oplr/plr#info-technology

[P226mem]

Age of student is not the issue with proving homeschool graduation. If the homeschool administrator (aka parent) is still alive and did a legal program, it's not that hard to "prove" and have transcript made. Ok, yes, there's the unusual cases out there where the parents are mad at adult child and won't help. But generally speaking, templates for transcript are easy to find within state organizations and other online resources and can be filled in and signed with appropriate classes, grades and graduation date. I worry about saying this, but a former member of degreeforum (cookderosa) even has a free course in transcripts on her website to help legit homeschool parents make a transcript. Lee Binz does too. HSLDA. the list goes on for help on that for parents who do legit homeschooling. Age of student is not the issue. Our family used a cover school in our state so the school is responsible for recording keeping. But it varies over the country. I personally don't suggest taking the GED is the person actually graduated high school. GED or HiSET isn't necessary if one actually graduated. And that homeschool info is specific to US.

GED or diploma will be needed for financial aid.

But on the other hand. Maybe the original poster did not finish the homeschool program from the administrator's (parents/cover school) point of view in which case HiSET test or GED test is an alternative if COSC is not where they want to go. HiSET is used by many states these days instead of the GED. [PS: edit to add. In my state, the GED is not even offered anymore and not eligible for the online version either. HiSET is the new thing.) Think of it like along the lines of some colleges want a SAT and others are fine with ACT. same idea but with other restrictions......

Can anyone find link which colleges accept the ACE recommendations for GED? I'm not seeing it on COSC for example but don't know the entire website either. If it's not on the approved provider list there, then that specific benefit of GED is not available, and not needed if bringing in 9 credits.

[rachel83az]

Can anyone find link which colleges accept the ACE recommendations for GED? I'm not seeing it on COSC for example but don't know the entire website either. If it's not on the approved provider list there, then that specific benefit of GED is not available, and not needed if bringing in 9 credits.

I have no idea which schools do or do not accept the GED. But TESU is reported to grant credits: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ady-Credit

[Alpha]

Can anyone find link which colleges accept the ACE recommendations for GED? I'm not seeing it on COSC for example but don't know the entire website either. If it's not on the approved provider list there, then that specific benefit of GED is not available, and not needed if bringing in 9 credits.

I have no idea which schools do or do not accept the GED. But TESU is reported to grant credits: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ady-Credit

You folks clearly know a lot more about this subject than me but I just blinked over to ged.com and saw indications that these sorts of issues vary according to state law.  It's also possible that the Regional Accreditors have something to say about admission standards as well.  Having said that however I have to simply comment that my understanding of the GED, in general, is that it is a universal standard for a high school diploma.  It's designed to cover all your needs everywhere. I think that's how places like ged.com can exist.  They sell a product that is acceptable regardless of where you are living/working.  Beyond that, my own opinion is that the previous advice about deciding first on the degree, then the school is the best advice to follow.

[bjcheung77]

You may want to review this post: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid336998